Lindsay Brown was first diagnosed with Ocular Melanoma in May of 2022 and learned that it had metastasized in her liver just 18 months later. Since then, she has traveled from her home in Minnesota to Thomas Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia for treatment. Each visit can take several days, including travel time, a clinic visit, treatment, and recovery.

“It takes so much of our resources to make this happen … from childcare, to missing work, to flights and hotels, and that's not even the treatment cost after insurance covers some,” says Lindsay.

“Receiving the gift of a travel grant from Eye on Grace Foundation means we have a little breathing room. It means we can pay off some of the credit cards we've had no choice but to use for travel expenses, and it means that we can look ahead to the next treatments knowing we have this support.

“Many people assume you get diagnosed, you go through a certain number of treatment rounds, and then you move on with your life. Rare cancer -- and really any cancer -- just isn't like that. The financial toll, the mental load, the preparing for the worst while also believing in the best outcomes -- it's all an enormous weight to carry. And especially while trying to create a sense of normalcy for small kids, the weight of it all can feel crushing. It's not a battle we are losing or winning; it's a total lifestyle shift for the remainder of our lives, and that's something I don't think many people understand.

“If I could hug every single one of you and tell you how much this travel grant means to my family and me, I would! To breathe easier, knowing that every trip won't be another sizable credit card charge has allowed us to really focus on treatment instead of the financial implications of getting there. Thank you seems like an insignificant thing to say when compared with how we feel. But I will say it anyway -- from the bottom of our hearts, thank you!”

This is such a good quote. I wish we could somehow use it in the video.